Business at the Well

Douglas Yade

The train bumped along through the Siberian landscape as
the interpreter looked at the Christian and his wife. “It’s a fine winter
morning,” she said. “Soon the train will soon stop for one hour. You can go
outside and walk.”

“One hour? A train doesn’t stop for one hour for no reason
if there is a Christian on board. God has something
for us to do.”

The three of them surveyed the busy area, congested with
merchants. As they walked they saw a man, a yoke over his shoulders with two
pails on it, walking toward a well.

“There’s our man,” he exclaimed. “Let’s follow him. This
is not the first time the Lord has done business at a well.” His mind went to
the story of John chapter four.

The townsman was about thirty and poorly dressed. His
weary grey coat and shabby pants mirrored the desperate look in his eyes. He
filled his two pails and the Christian took his picture. The Russian looked up
from under his ragged hat. “Tell the stranger he must come to my home for tea.”

They followed him to the old log house. His wife tried to
smile as she welcomed them into their little home which was in complete
disarray. The two children, age five and seven, were dressed as poorly as their
parents and they stood near as the strangers talked about the trip and the
weather while sipping the hot tea. And then the question came from the townsman.
“Why would anybody in their right mind come to a place like Siberia?”

“We came to distribute Bibles and tell the people about
God,” the Christian explained. The man’s eyes opened wide and sparkled with
excitement. Even his wife turned to look with surprise.

“Oh, this is so amazing. My wife and I were both taught
that there is no God. And we even believed it. But for the past few months we’ve
been asking God to make himself real if He’s really there. We prayed that He
would send help.”

The Christian reached down into his bag. “I’ll show you
what God has sent to you.” He pulled out a Scofield Bible with its helpful notes
and explanations. “This is for you. And here is what He wants to give to your
children.” He pulled out a children’s Bible-book. “You must read these stories
to the children daily and teach them about God.”

The couple wept as they looked at the miracle of God’s
provision for them. Shortly they escorted the travellers to the train and bid
them farewell through more tears.

They got on board just in time and settled into their
compartment as tears warmed their faces and worship ascended to the Lord Jesus.
The English teacher who was the interpreter was also a believer. She was amazed.
“Wasn’t it wonderful how the Lord led us to this couple to supply a need and
answer a prayer!”

Show Me from This Book

But this was not the end of the story. A few years later,
in the summer of 2001, the brother and his wife stopped at this same town again.
“This is the place. Let’s get out quickly. The Lord surely wants us to meet
somebody!”

They prayed and then stepped out into the swarm of people.
The interpreter frowned. “Why are you giving out tracts? You know that this is
not allowed now.”

“We must find the person that God has stopped the train
for. Here, you give out some too.” Soon a thirty-five-year-old man, neatly
dressed and holding a little bag, approached curiously and took a tract. A smile
broke out on his face immediately and he began to tremble. He took a Bible from
his bag. “This is what I received in prison. I’ve learned something about how
Christ lived and died. He died for my sins but I’m not sure where my sins are.
Can you show me from this Book what Christ did with my sins?”

For the next forty-five minutes they reviewed verses in
the Bible that told about the great work of salvation that Christ accomplished
on the cross. “I have many very bad sins.” He bowed his head and grimaced for a
moment. “I was in prison for murder. Can God forgive such a sinner and then take
him to heaven?”

Under the warm Siberian sun they read the Russian words
together, “He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our
iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds
we are healed.” As they considered the verse in Isaiah 53, the man wept and
appreciated the assurance of forgiveness. As curious spectators tried to make
sense of the strange language and weeping men he said, “I’m so happy the Lord
sent you here today. Oh such news, that all of my sins are forgiven and I will
certainly be in heaven some day.”

A New Family

The train moved on. The weary travellers again worshipped
God and spoke to other passengers. The Lord had another contact. An
eighteen-year-old girl took a tract and then reached into her purse for a Bible.
“Today I asked God to give me the light I need. I have been on this train many
times but I knew that today would be a very different experience. You must help
me.” She lacked assurance. “I know that God wants to save me. But I don’t know
if my sins have been forgiven.”

The train clattered along the tracks and together they
read verses well past the midnight hour. Soon her face began to glow. The Holy
Spirit, using the word of God, enlightened her soul and brought her peace and a
clear conscience as she understood, “And I give unto them eternal life; and they
will never perish” (John 10: 28). She explained how she had been raised in a
very cruel home. “I just want to forget my childhood. There wasn’t much food in
the house. And my unloving mother and father had many beatings for me - for no
reason.”

She was thrilled to learn of the new family she was in and
rejoiced to think that her heavenly Father would love her and give her only what
was best. They demonstrated some of that care as they rented fresh sheets for
her and a clean berth to sleep in. Sitting there comfortably she sniffled back
the tears. “I am so glad that I am in God’s family - to stay!” Her soft voice
emphasized the last two words.

Believer, who has the Lord brought to your pathway today?
Are you watching and ready to speak?

Adapted by Douglas Yade from the book To Siberia with
Bibles (second printing now available from D. Yade (705) 567-5951 or L.
Smith (517) 569-2733 or conference book sellers).